Are you looking to open your own restaurant but are a little short on capital? Well, a Food truck is the answer for you! A food truck business format gives the owner accessibility to various locations with much less initial investment compared to a stationary restaurant. Many small business owners are looking to expand their businesses in a food truck format to gain a larger customer base and more.
Let’s see how you can open your own Food Truck
1. Make a Business Plan
Every business, small or large, has its own pros and cons. It’s very natural to have doubts and anxiety about opening a restaurant. Hence, before investing in anything or leasing anything, you should first make a business plan for your food truck. The business plan must include clarity on the following topics:
- Capital amount required
- Expected years for ROI
- Target audience
- Speciality
- Location(s)
- Industry analysis
- Financial & Marketing Strategies
- Future collaborations and growth
2. Choose the correct vehicle
In a food truck business format, the commercial vehicle plays a very crucial role. An 18-foot-long truck is most commonly used in such a business. Consider factors such as size, kitchen layout, storage capacity, and equipment requirements.
A new truck can cost between INR 7-10 lakhs. If you cannot invest such a huge amount upfront, you can lease a truck or even buy an old one. In case you buy an old used truck, make sure it has not been used for more than 5 years and has all the registration and license certificates, proper fitness certificates and insurance. It is advisable that you buy a light truck as having a huge heavy truck can bring lots of unnecessary restrictions on your operations.
3. Choose the correct Location
Choose the Location that has the following:
- A larger footfall
- Adequate Parking space
- Fewer vendors serving the same menu
- Visitors consisting of working professionals and students
- Moderate traffic area
Securing regular locations, such as near office complexes or universities, can help you build a loyal customer base and establish a consistent presence.
4. Invest in a POS
As a business owner, you need to learn a very important skill – Delegation. Don’t try to do everything on your own, or else you will burn out. Let the Food Truck POS handle all your operational hassles while you create magic in your ovens.
Invest in a fast billing mechanism, a coherent inventory management process, efficient reports to study your sales, and a single screen to manage all your online orders, these are some of the key technologies that can help your food truck business to grow more.
In fact, if you don’t have a space to keep bulky billing hardware, then there is one small but effective solution for you. Give Petpooja GO a shot! It is your handy Android billing software that does a lot more than super-fast billing. Click here to know more!
5. Licenses required
Food Trucks don’t have to apply for all kinds of licenses, like dine-in restaurants. However, there are a few licenses that they need to apply for compulsorily.
- FSSAI mobile vendor’s License
- Fire Licensee
- Eating out license
- NOC from RTO
- NOC from Municipal Corporation
- Kitchen Insurance
Make sure to research and fulfil all legal obligations to avoid any complications later on.
6. Marketing for Food truck
Digital marketing has made the marketing game fun, smooth and innovative. You no longer need thousands of followers to go viral anymore. Having an Instagram page for your Food truck is a must. Choose your aesthetic style and consistently post about your business on your socials. Update your followers and viewers about your menu, special dishes, offers and discounts, back-end food preparation videos, etc. Get great reviews on Google business reviews and other third-party platforms.
You will gain your viewer’s attention and trust once they see your genuine posts and videos. This will help you increase your sales as well as followers on your socials.
If you wish to know more about food truck marketing, then you must check out this blog!
7. Staffing and Training
Hire a dedicated and passionate team to assist you in running your food truck efficiently. Look for individuals with experience in the food industry who can handle food preparation, customer service, and cashier duties. Train your staff on maintaining hygiene, food handling protocols, and exceptional customer service. A well-trained and motivated team will contribute to the success and reputation of your food truck business.
Tips for running your Food truck successfully
- Don’t buy used equipment for your food truck business it will increase your costs in the long run.
- Schedule your time & place so your customers can find you at the same time (in case of multiple locations)
- Keep the taste consistent
- Create personal relations with your customer
- Ace your social media presence
- Register on food delivery apps
- Introduce new dishes regularly
- Promote your business by offering discounts
The total cost of opening a food truck business can be between INR 7 to 10 lakhs, depending upon your choices.
Opening a food truck business in India in 2023 is an exciting endeavour filled with delicious possibilities. Remember to focus on quality, customer satisfaction, and adaptability to stay ahead in this competitive industry.
With determination, creativity, and a well-executed plan, your food truck could become a favourite destination for food lovers across India. So, fire up those burners and set off on your gastronomic adventure today!
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